Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

Clinique Lid Pop Long-Wearing Eyeshadow: Clinique’s Latest “Pop” Sensation

March 25th, 2016 by Anna Oh 16 Comments

clinique spring 2016 lid pops — The Clinique Lid Pop long-wearing eyeshadows for spring 2016 ($17 each, available now)

Hi everyone!

Clinique is back for spring with eyeshadows based on their uber-popular long-wearing, buildable Cheek Pop line.

Also known as “the prettiest eyeshadows ever!” the new Clinique Lid Pops ($17 each) come in eight satiny and shimmery shades, and here’s a look at four of them.

This powder gelee formula is downright PRETTY on the skin. Petal Pop and Cream Pop reflect nicely on the lids, and the matte color — Cocoa Pop — has a beautiful satin sheen.

Unfortunately, Surf Pop doesn’t fare so well in swatches or on the lids. Blue is an unforgiving color to start with, and this one needs better pigmentation to prevent patchy application.

I wonder what Clinique plans to release next into their “Pop” product line!

The Clinique Lid Pops

Vanilla Pop
Cream Pop
Petal Pop
Grape Pop
Surf Pop
Aqua Pop
Willow Pop (I really want to get this one!)
Cocoa Pop

Clinique Lid Pops (L-R) Petal Pop, Surf Pop, Cocoa Pop, Cream Pop

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What’s in a Name?

March 25th, 2016 by Karen 86 Comments

Sometimes when I hold Connor Claire, I seriously can’t believe she spent nine months percolating in my tum. Like…really? I really made this little creature? She was in there all that time?!

Blows. My. Mind.

In related news, I overheard El Hub talking to a friend on the phone the other day about Connor’s name. The friend said, “You know that Connor is a boy’s name, right?” and then they asked if it was too late to change the name. Had we already submitted the final paperwork?

Um…yes. For the record, we knew. Connor is usually a boy’s name, but she wasn’t named after a boy. She was named after one of the great ladies of science fiction cinema, one Ms. Sarah Connor (specifically, the Sarah Connor from the first two Terminator movies). 🙂

Connor also happens to share a name with one of my favorite female authors, Flannery O’Connor, and the first woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States, Sandra Day O’Connor.

El Hub and I wanted to give her a strong name, and Connor fit her perfectly.

And the “Claire” part of her name just spoke to me. I like how it sounds. It’s from the feminine form of the Latin adjective “clarus,” meaning bright or clear.

How about you? Is there a story behind your name? I was named after an actress that my mom liked named Karen Black.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

AmorePacific Sheet Mask Makes for A Perfect Skin Day

March 25th, 2016 by Jen Clark 16 Comments

You know the old saying, “beauty is pain”? Well, in this case, you get all of the beauty while your loved ones endure the pain of looking at your terrifying face in this sheet mask!

The AmorePacific Moisture Bound Intensive Serum Masque is such a luxurious treat. Infused with 100% pure Bamboo sap and a blend of Asian botanicals, it moisturizes, plumps and firms.

If you’ve got an event where you need your skin to look its best, or your skin is just dull, dry and tired and you need a pick-me-up, look no further than right here.

The package comes with two treatments for $32, so this will definitely be a once in a while luxury for me. I’ll always keep a pack on hand, though, because they are THAT good. They’re one of those things that just make your skin look better.

It’s hard to find the words to exactly describe what happens between the time when you put one on and you take it off, but whatever it is, it’s magic.

This one is a little different than other sheet masks I’ve tried, because rather than the mask being pre-soaked in a solution, you get a little vial of the serum and a dry, gel textured mask. All you have to do is dump the serum on your face and spread it around.

There’s quite a lot of it, so be warned — things get a little slippery.

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The Paul & Joe Spring 2016 Collection: Sometimes Versatility Comes in Small, Lovely Packaging

March 24th, 2016 by Marcella Yakalis 11 Comments

My makeup looks tend to be simple. As I don’t often wear a full face of makeup, I opt for what I know, and what I find suits my lifestyle, as I’m sure most of us do.

What I’m talking about, I guess, is convenience, and convenience is just one of the many things that makes these few products from the Paul & Joe Spring 2016 Collection special.

Launched as a cosmetics line in 2002, and named after owner Sophie Mechaly’s two sons, feline-fabulous brand Paul & Joe has been a French staple since 1995, when it began as a menswear company before expanding into womenswear and children’s fashion.

Now available in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia, the line has expanded significantly since its start.

Their philosophy says it all:

“Thoroughly enjoying life, valuing every moment- that is the philosophy of Parisians and Sophie Melachy herself. PAUL & JOE BEAUTE projects a lifestyle that brims over with a sense of happiness and well-being.”

Happiness is a present element when it comes to the packaging of these gorgeous spring products. This week I got my hands on the beautiful #11 compact, as well the #101 face and eye color combo, the #2 cream blush, and the #7 powder blush.

The compact itself is sold separately, and the products, such as the blushes, are designed to be interchangeable with the compact. This packaging is incredibly convenient for touchups throughout the day.

The Face and Eye Color Palette, the largest of the four products shown here, is also my favorite.

It’s stunning! And although I’m really not a fan of perfumed cosmetics, I can’t help myself. I like it here (it’s faintly citrusy with a hint of lily).

Paul & Joe Spring 2016 Face and Eye Color Palette — One of the few French words I can actually remember is the word for butterfly (*papillon*)

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Get Cheeky With These Hard Candy Cheeky Tints

March 24th, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 11 Comments

Anything with the phrase “cheeky” in it is particularly nostalgic to this beauty lover, given the name of my blog, Getting Cheeky, which I nurtured for several years before “retiring.” So, of course, when I heard that Hard Candy had released a cheek product for spring 2016 called the Cheeky Tints, I was all ears.

Hard Candy was the cool girl makeup brand that I couldn’t get enough of as a tween, and it’s been fun to watch the brand’s style evolve over time.

I remember treating myself to their nail polishes with babysitting money (I won’t tell you when that was…because it will make me feel ancient) and lovingly collecting the rings that came with the polishes in a coordinated hue.

Hard Candy’s Cheeky Tints are part of the “new wave” of high quality makeup that’s fun, but doesn’t break the bank. These tints are available in six shades and, at only $6 each, you can definitely treat yourself to a fair few of them without dipping into your spring break fund.

I tested the Cheeky Tints both with a brush and with my fingers, and while the brush application looked lovely, I suppose I just like finger painting for grownups and favor my god-given applicators.

To avoid letting the product dry down too quickly and ending up with one splotch on each cheek that’s darker than the rest (liquid blush and stain, ladies; we’ve all been there), I make sure to dispense the product onto my hand before picking up the color with my finger and blending into my cheek. I’ve found that with all of the shades, this works best to control the pigment.

Hard Candy’s Cheeky Tints are water based with a thick gel formula that’s easy to control, both when squeezing the product out of the tube and applying. The consistency is incredibly easy to blend and lasts (I kid you not) all day.

I’ve been favoring Goddess applied heavily underneath my foundation to warm up my overall appearance, or on top of foundation for a lasting bronze that helps me look a bit less like I’ve just spent the entire winter in the “arctic tundra.”

But Geisha has been my favorite blush of late. It’s an incredibly natural flush that reminds me a bit of Benefit’s classic Benetint.. It’s perfect and so natural for spring.

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The Benefit Dandelion Collection for Spring 2016: Pretty in Pink

March 24th, 2016 by Anna Oh 27 Comments

Hi, everyone!

As one of the prettiest (in my opinion) collections of spring 2016, the Benefit Dandelion Collection is an expansion of Benefit’s bestselling Dandelion Brightening Finishing Powder ($29), with the new Dandelion Shy Beam Liquid Highlighter ($26) and Dandelion Dew Liquid Blush ($28).

This is a small and concise collection with every product layering on top of each other to create a beautiful and brightening flush.

benefit dandelion collection shy beam dandelion dew — Benefit Spring 2016 Dandelion Collection

benefit dandelion collection dandelion box powder — Benefit Dandelion Powder

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Here Are My Makeup Bag Essentials! What Are Yours?

March 24th, 2016 by Adia Goss 34 Comments

I’m sort of a makeup bag hoarder.

The easiest way to get me to buy something is to offer a free makeup bag. Then I’m sold (Clinique, I’m looking at you).

My excuse is that they always come in handy, whether for travel, organization, gift-giving… In fact, I always keep a makeup bag in my desk at work and another one in my gym bag. But I also like to have one that I just leave on my vanity, because it takes the guesswork out of doing my makeup in the morning, and I’ll also throw things in there that I’ve been meaning to try, so that I don’t forget about them.

I’ll also bring another makeup bag with me if I’m going somewhere after work, and I know I’ll want to freshen up my makeup.

See? So many makeup bags!

Here are what I currently consider my makeup bag essentials:

Face products

I’m not really one for powdering my nose on the go, so I have these Palladio Rice Paper Sheets instead. They soak up excess oil and don’t disturb the rest of my makeup. They’re very affordable, too (available at Ulta for $3.99).

If my base has worn off, or if I just want to add some coverage, I’ve been loving this Clinique Chubby in the Nude Foundation Stick. I use the shade called Gargantuan Golden. This one pictured is actually a free one that I got at Sephora, but I purchased the full size about a month ago (at Sephora for $24). I love how easy it is to blend on the skin with just my fingers, so it’s perfect for on-the-go. It’s build-able up to medium coverage and has a satin finish, so it looks very natural. If you’ve found other stick foundations to be too heavy or too creamy, look into this because it has a less slick feel than others that I’ve tried.

For added glow on the go, I absolutely LOVE Butterfly Beach by ColourPop Cosmetics. It’s a cool-toned champagne highlighter that instantly wakes up my face. I think it’s very flattering and so easy to just apply with my fingers, so this is one of my all-time favorite highlighters.

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Burt’s Bees Radiance Lotion Will Have You Channeling Your Inner Queen Bee

March 23rd, 2016 by Marcella Yakalis 13 Comments

burts bees, radiance lotion, body lotion — Holding court in my lotion kingdom…

So, here’s a bit of a confession, and I only call it a confession because you, dear readers, don’t know me that well, and my boyfriend is probably the only other one who knows this, but…I can be a grizzly beast in the winter.

Bodily speaking, I mean. Body hair, specifically. Body hair has become less and less taboo as the years have passed, and I find myself caring less and less in the winter.

I’m a habitual bikini waxer, but other than that, in the wintertime, it just makes things worse. I shave my legs, and my skin just dries out more. Who needs that?

Well, despite my biggest excuses, I can’t resist trying a new body lotion, and if I’m going to try a new lotion, I want to feel like a baby dolphin when I do it. 🙂

Burt’s Bees Radiance Body Lotion is part of the brand’s Radiance family of products, which consists of an entire line of skin care. formulated with royal jelly, as well as sunflower oil and aloe, which contribute to the amazing scent.

After a very long shower and the death of one very strong, very brave razor, my legs were once again hairless, and my body was ready to begin the testing. What I wasn’t ready for was how much I was going to sparkle! Radiance Body Lotion contains mica (a light reflecting mineral), and baby, does it reflect.

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